February 17, 2009 Thanks to Kit for reminding me of some interesting pools on Flickr: Lightweight travel, Do you pack light?, What’s in your bag?, and - last but not least - the Hey, what’s in your bag? pool. Here’s Kit’s photo (click on it to find a link to her packing list with weights):
http://www.flickr.com/people/compactmanifold/
February 5, 2009 
Yesterday’s post about leaving tech gear at home got me thinking about alternatives to the Luddite approach. The many-pocketed SCOTTEVEST products offer an innovative solution for keeping your stuff out of a bag (that’s lodged in an overhead compartment or stuffed under airline seat) and on your person - a great choice of one-bag travelers who suffer unexpected gate checks. SeV has coats, vests, and an interesting travel shirt. Air travelers can beat those pesky and increasingly-popular carry-on weight limits by stashing several pounds of stuff in a jacket or vest that can be slipped off at the checkpoint for scanning but won’t count against the bag weight.
Frank@OBOW
The SeV Explorer jacket has a host of cool features and is on sale. From the description: “20 hidden pockets and compartments…special secure pockets for your travel documents, cell phone, iPod®/Nano®/iPhone®, water bottle… patented Personal Area Network (PAN) to manage and hide your wires, together with our unique Weight Management System to balance your gear load… With Teflon® treatment, the Explorer Jacket will repel water, spills and stains.”
December 23, 2008 I continue to be impressed by the Champion C9 poly/nylon underwear and active gear from Target. It’s the cheapest quick-dry stuff you can buy off the rack, especially if you watch the sale racks. I wore a long-sleeved Champion antimicrobial running shirt for 24 hours yesterday and it was sweet-smelling and comfortable. I was so impressed I decided to wear it today as well since it’s brutally cold where I am and my l/s undershirt options are limited. Definitely watch your local Target stores - you’ll find very little C9 stuff online.
A note for the holidays. I’ll be traveling and will take a couple of bags with me. Look for reviews of the Skytrain, Western Flyer with backpack straps, and (maybe) the latest version of the Rick Steves Convertible by early January. Since I’ll be away from work and home I should have time to complete them.
Frank@OBOW
After 48 hours with the CP undershirt: no odor. I’m certain it won’t perform so well in the summer. And no, I it wasn’t laundered in the Stinkfighter formula. Don’t worry, I stopped at 48 hours; it’s in the hamper.
December 11, 2008 
“The absolute best light jacket I have ever used, whether traveling or up on the high peaks or on a sailboat is the Marmot Dri-Clime.
I’ve got two of them, one for the peaks and one strictly for traveling and what goes along with that.
The design has been changed a couple of times over the years but for my dollar and comfort, this Dri-Clime cannot be beat!
Packs very well, lightweight, oblivious to wrinkles, comfortable in both warm and cool temps.”
December 3, 2008 ExOfficio has buy-2-get-1-free sale through Dec. 24 on their
excellent undies which are comfortable, dry quickly, and are the favorite of light travelers everywhere. Toothbrush not included.
October 13, 2008 A weekend trip left me a solid believer in the virtues of Cocona fabric. It’s made from from activated carbon from recycled coconuts and blended with other fabrics. My Savane pants (supposedly golf pants) pass as dress or casual khakis and I wore them for two days straight - almost wrinkle and odor free. Watch for this fabric. It seems ideal for travel. It’s touted as very fast-drying but I haven’t tested it yet in that respect. Pants (for men) are the hardest piece of the travel wardrobe to select. Polyester and microfber pants can get smelly in hurry in warm weather. Cocona may be the answer. This fabric will go with me next June for a warm-weather southern European trip. Stay tuned for more on Cocona.
September 22, 2008 OBOWer Alana posted this item to the Forum but it’s too good to leave there. Here’s her approach to keeping fresh that most versatile of fabrics - wool:
If you decide to go with the wool pants (I’m presuming washable, here; dry-cleaning on the road is a nightmare), here’s a way to freshen them up without dunking them into a sink and waiting for them to dry.
Go to a store and get one of the dry-cleaner-in-a-bag REFILLS. You don’t want the kit, just the refill. Make sure the ones you get are individually wrapped. Get a box of 2 1/2 gallon Glad or Ziploc bags at the same time. Pack the refill packs at the rate of one every four days, more if you’re going somewhere hot and sweaty, or into a place where people don’t bathe as often as we Americans do. (Stinky buses can and do transfer smell into wool - this will eliminate that smell!)
When your pants are smellier than just plain airing will do, and you can’t/don’t have the time to wash then and let them dry, put your pants into the 2 1/2 gallon bag with one of the opened dryer refills. Don’t let the wet refill touch the fabric! Seal the big bag up and let it fumigate your pants at least four hours, overnight if you have the time. You can open the bag after half the time and turn them inside out/rearrange them for maximum effect. Make sure you have at least an hour in the morning to let them dry after taking them out of the bag.
Depending on how long you had to leave your clothes in the bag, the dryer pad may be usable again. If it’s damp, it’s usable. If it dries out, it’s done for. Keep it in a sealed quart bag whenever you’re not using it.
This also works on blazers worn to very smoky bars, blouses, skirts, you name it. It won’t remove stains, though, so make sure you use spot remover on your clothes before you bag them. For the truly washaphobic, no, this won’t do for your undies or your socks. Sorry.
You’ll eventually have to whip out the sink plug/hand soap and do your wash, but this will delay it a little. Smell sensitive? Try out a brand or two at home before you leave. Some have less scent than others. And yes, they do work in a dryer for dry-cleanable clothes, but you’ll need the full kit. I do NOT recommend using the full dryer kit on the road - if the laundromat dryer is any kind of wonky, you’ll probably ruin your clothes, or at worst, the dryer! Use the full dryer kit at home ONLY. Better yet, don’t get dry-clean-only clothes.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO AIR OUT YOUR WOOL!
July 22, 2008 
While researching a question from Buzz in the forum I came across this interesting shirt - a travel oxford that doesn’t look like a travel shirt. It’s 73% Coolmax/27% cotton so it should dry quickly. A shirt of this type might be a real boon for the business traveler. Here’s hoping it has a comfortable collar. It’s also available in white and standard blue.
July 9, 2008 
Exoffico has come out with a new travel shirt that - thankfully - looks a lot less like a travel shirt - the Trip’r. I like its cut and pocket design better than their Air Strip shirts. I really like the Air Strip Lite but it does look like a fishing shirt. You can’t argue with the Exofficio fabric and construction though - very durable and no chafed neck.Frank@OBOW
And here’s a travel oxford that definitely doesn’t look goofy.
March 27, 2008 
I’ve previously reviewed the ExOfficio Air Strip Lite shirt and it’s a winner. It’s pricey so look for a sale. I’m less impressed with ExOfficio’s vaunted travel underwear. The men’s boxer variety - at least in my case - came oversized; they were the blousiest, largest mediums I’ve ever seen. This led to a good deal of bunching and discomfort. The fabric had more of the tacky, polyester feel when sweaty than I expected. My old Terramar Visaendurance briefs were much more comfortable and more odor-resistant. Alas, a far-sighted sock fairy made off with them and they’re no longer available. This looks like the replacement though: Terramar Underwear Boxer Briefs - with EC2 and 4-Way Stretch (For Men).Frank@OBOW
March 25, 2008 
I’m still looking for a really good pair of quick-dry pants for travel. Polyester and microfiber leave something to be desired - and often leave something to be smelled too. Orvis has new pants in a nylon canvas fabric that might be the answer. I’m beginning to think that tropical-weight wool pants, which can be worn a few times at least without getting funky, are the best three-season solution. Just hang up and air out the wool slacks and they’re usually good for another day.
Frank@OBOW
OBOW reader Sam (see comment below) gives a strong recommendation for the REI Adventures Pants. They look good to me. Unlike a lot people I can’t bear the zip-off leg, heavy cargo look. I’m too old I guess…February 15, 2008 
I just picked up a six-pack of premium 100% cotton undershirts for everyday wear and was struck by how heavy they were. The six of them weighted two pounds. No wonder I carry only two or three poly/nylon quick-dry undershirts when I travel. Two pounds would amount to about one-fifth of my normal load for a trip of up to 10 days. Two synthetic shirts (which can be laundered in the sink every night or so) weigh eight ounces or less. It’s not just pants and shirts - which you can often wear two or more times without washing - that weigh a suitcase down. Carrying a daily change of cotton underclothing may make you fill good all under but may be hard on your back or shoulder. Think synthetic. But be choosy: the worst of the poly/nylon undies can be brutally uncomfortable. The good ones are a delight.November 28, 2007 Joe Brancatelli is a gem. His advice is always witty and wise. Joe on dressing for checkpoint success:
“I’ve found that the fastest way through security is to go plastic. I switched the brass buttons on my blue blazer for plastic ones. I bought a plastic Swatch watch specifically for road trips. I’ve even gotten rid of my belt. Needless to say, I wear only slip-on shoes, and I check my socks for holes before I leave home.
“I won’t argue that this all sounds a bit unstylish. If you want to don jewelry, sport your favorite chunky metal watch, and wear your lucky running shoes, and if you really need a belt, do what I do: Stow these possessions in your carry-on bag, then put them on once you clear security. And here’s an incredibly useful tip: Stash potentially problematic items in zip-top plastic bags. Before you reach the checkpoint, dump everything-keys, jewelry, pens, handheld computers, cell phones, loose change-into a bag and place it in an exterior pocket of your carry-on. When you escape the clutches of the T.S.A., fish out the zip-top bag and return everything to your person.” - washingtonpost.com
More tips from Joe on minimizing your sartorial load:
- Limit your color palette so your clothes match easily - maximizing their utility
- Accessorize - create the illusion of more outfits with different ties, scarves, etc.
- Buy clothing on the road
- Use hotel laundry services - “Lugging around dirty laundry is, needless to say, counterproductive.” (I might add that the non-business traveler can easily wash their own clothes in-room, provided you’ve chosen the right clothing)
August 30, 2007 
One way to pack lighter is to wear what you might otherwise stuff in a bag. SCOTTEVEST “gear management clothing” allows you to get lots of tech gear out of your bag and into your jacket or vest. They have some interesting stuff. The pants wouldn’t do you much good at the security checkpoint since you have to empty your pockets anyway, but a jacket can be removed and sent through the x-ray machine. Subracting the weight of your phone, iPod, PDA, AC adapters or chargers from your carryon might help you beat some of the tough new carryon weight limits.August 24, 2007 
The Washington Post travel blog has a nice short piece on how ridiculous and old most “travel” clothes look, citing Magellan’s, Travel Smith, and Land’s End as examples. I couldn’t agree more. And what about the Tilley hat? Is anything more ridiculous looking? I love those guys with their multi-pocket travel/photo vests and Tilley lids. Maybe we’ll all be there one day, but I agree that there’s a need for something between old person and hostel-bound hiker fashion. ExOfficio, Royal Robbns, and Columbia are probably the best place to look for a middle ground. You may also find that “regular” clothes work well for travel. I have a normal poly/cotton dress/casual shirt that dries as fast as any tech shirt. Wool and wool-blend stuff is great too.August 16, 2007 OBOW has picked up lots of new readers in recent weeks so it’s time to for a little re-posting. Here’s our original post on a travel laundry technique we developed - with a little further development tacked on at the end:
Doing laundry on the road is one of the necessities of light, one-bag travel. You don’t need ten changes of underwear for a ten-day trip; you can get by with three. But, you must use synthetics to successfully wash and dry overnight in the hotel room or hostel. Therein lies the problem: Synthetics get stinky fast. One solution is to pay $18-$35 for high-tech underclothing which has fabric with built-in anti-microbial (and, hence, anti-odor) properties.
I have discovered another, cheaper way: Sink wash your garden-variety synthetic (polyester/nylon) undies using my odor-fighting concoction.
Here’s how you do it. Fill the sink about half way with lukewarm water. Mix in a couple of glugs of clear Softsoap antibacterial handsoap and a couple of spritzes of Febreze Anti-Microbial. Handwash the undies, then rinse them out quickly - not too aggressively. Apparently enough of the anti-bacterial and anti-microbial stuff stays in the fabric to make it perform like the $25 hi-tech variety. My $10 Champions now finish a sweaty day as sweetly as my more-expensive Terramar briefs (with Visaendurance wonder fabric). This formula makes the high-tech fabrics work even better. The anti-microbial fabrics are still preferable for backpackers who may have nothing more than a creek to wash in or who want to stick with a green, biodegradable detergent - which my formula isn’t. But, for the cost-conscious light traveler my method may be just the ticket. This method works equally well for briefs or undershirts. I’ve used it on my ExOfficio Air Strip shirt and microfiber pants too.
I get this stuff through the carryon screeners by filling two 2-ounce hand sanitizer bottle with the soap and a 2-ounce spray bottle (half-full) with the Febreze. This is enough for ten days or so. I don’t mix it together until it hits the sink.
DISCLAIMER: I cannot guarantee that this method will not harm or shorten the working life of some garments, but I have no reason to believe that the method is detrimental to any fabrics or finishes.
UPDATE: I am more convinced than ever that this is an effective method for washing travel clothing and minimizing your, er, aroma. It also works well in a washing machine using the gentle cycle and an appropriate water level. You’ll have to estimate the amount of soap and Febreze required, but keep in mind it’s not rocket science and it doesn’t take that much soap.
I’ve become aware Win High Performance Sports Detergent which I thought might perform similarly to the Stinkfighter formula. I cannot recommend it. My tests indicated that synthetic clothing was about as smelly after use with Win as with normal detergent. It may do a better job cleaning clothes with heavy embedded odor, but it does not work as well as my formula for the lightpacking traveler. And it’s quite expensive at $6 or $8 for a small bottle. You can find it at sporting goods stores.
Here is yet another way of accomplishing the goal of less smelly clothing recommend by OBOW reader Dan P.:
“I use a similar method. Good to know I am not the only one without $30.00 shorts. However, I do use a different set of ingredients. I use Scent-a-way laundry detergent to wash, then lightly rinse in a sink of water mixed with a cap full of X-O deodorizer. I agree with Brad the method works because the ingredients are not totally removed from the clothing. Scent-a-way is used by bow hunters and is designed to remove human scent and X-O is made for animal use which means both are strong but will not cause skin rashes. The only downside is I have a strong urge to urinate on fire hydrants ;-}.An extra plus is that both ingredients are environmentally friendly.”
I haven’t tested Dan’s formula but it sounds like it would work as well. Let us know what works for you.
July 16, 2007 June 24, 2007 
The warm weather traveler would do well to consider wool socks for four-season use. Even in the summer mid- to lightweight wool socks provide an excellent combination of durability, blister prevention, natural odor protection, and comfort. This is something most hikers, bikers, and runners already know. The key is wool’s moisture wicking qualities means you feet stay drier, which helps prevent blisters. I did a June trip where I walked about ten times more than normal without a single blister. But aren’t they hot? Not in my experience, but as with all travel clothing you should test your gear before you go — under similar conditions if possible. 
Socks designated as “light hikers” are usually appropriate for summer. I find that about three pairs of wool socks will get me through a trip of any length. And if you like to look snazzy, Smartwool makes some really cool color combinations.
June 7, 2007 
Disposable cotton Onederwear is an interesting option for the light traveler. I tested the men’s boxers on a recent trip and found them to be a viable alternative to traditional cotton or poly underwear. I used them about three days out of eleven on this trip including the last day — which meant wearing them a full 24 hours from hotel departure to arriving home in the early hours of the morning. In between were 10 hours of flights, three airports with lovely vinyl seating, 13 hours of layover and flight delay, and an hour in a car or bus.
The Onederwear boxers are not perfect but they are surprisingly comfortable. My concern was that their thin waistband would pose a problem but this proved not to be the case — my undershirts stayed tucked and the briefs stayed “up”. The boxers’ fly is a little more problematic. It seems not to overlap far enough and after a long day the barn door is a little ajar, if you know what I mean. Nevertheless, I found their comfort to be comparable to the poly/nylon boxers I was wearing on other days. Onederwear makes boxers, briefs, and three types of women’s underwear. (I also received some briefs. I didn’t care for their fit, but then I rarely like briefs. The briefs did have a more effective fly than the boxers.) Another note: because their cotton fabric is quite thin they dry quicker than traditional cotton underwear if they become sweat soaked.
Even if they do not become your primary choice for travel underwear, keeping several pairs on hand is a good idea — for those nights when you’re tired of sinkwashing, or to keep in your day bag or vehicle in case of accident, illness, or unexpected travel delays. I’ll continue to use them along with my poly quick drys.
At about $2 per pair including shippng Onederwear may be cheaper for the occasional traveler than buying two or three pairs of Tilley or Ex Officio travel undies. Since they’re made of cotton — and even though you throw them away — I’m guessing the environmental impact is no greater than that of poly underwear which is petroleum-based.
BTW - This company makes also makes a cool (if you need it) roll-up necktie case and disposable sheets to cover airplane seats for you germophobes. See these items here.
